Have you recently or have you ever taken an inventory of how you feel … emotionally, physically, and even spiritually?  How good do you really feel?  How much joy do you experience?  In this podcast you will learn just how all of these things impact the immune system and what you can do to improve your immune system through all three areas … body, mind, and spirit.

What if you could make some simple changes over the next 6 months that could radically impact you life?  Keep this question in mind as you listen and at the end let me know how I can help you.

Click the link below to listen …

How Your Immune System Heals & Repairs

In this podcast we continue talking about how to heal anger and hidden hurts.  Remember, emotions manifest in physical challenges trying to get our attention and can be reversed.   Shileen goes into more detail about how self-nurture helps us in the every day and especially helps us when we are working through issues and coaching.  Georgie then demonstrates with the help of a volunteer a very powerful coaching session.

To listen click the link below:

Healing Hidden Hurts Part 2

Today’s podcast is about how to heal anger and hidden hurts  – emotions manifest in physical challenges trying to get our attention and can be reversed.  We are beautifully and wonderfully made and now is the time to heal and be set free!  (Remember we shut down emotionally way before it comes out in a physical form.)

To listen click the link below:

Healing Hidden Hurts Part 1

I noticed she was very sluggish. She was having trouble fulfilling what was being asked, even small things. She would take what seemed like forever to do the simplest tasks, sometimes getting lost to the point where she would have to be saved.

I knew what was wrong. She was being overworked. Day after day she would have so many tasks going on all at the same time, juggling so much more than she could handle. But she continued to be pushed until she could not be pushed any further. Her productivity continued to decrease even though the workload not only continued, but also became more demanding.

Finally, I knew what needed to happen so I expressed to her that she really needed to shutdown for a bit and helped her to do so.

We all know how it is when we have been overworked, how hard it is to stop and unplug. It doesn’t happen right away. The mind and body still want to keep going. Things keep popping up to address that seem urgent in the moment, but really are not, so you just have to delete them from your mind … until that beautiful moment comes when you can finally rest and relax.

That is exactly what happened to her. I sat with her and watched and helped until she finally found her way to let it all go. I could almost hear her sigh of relief.

Turned out she really didn’t need much at all. It is amazing, really, how little it can take to restore only if we would give ourselves that privilege. Once she rested a bit, she woke up and was ready to get back at it … functioning her normal, productive way … feeling good about herself and her abilities to serve others.

Can you relate to this story? I certainly can!

The truth is, the “she” in this story is my computer! That is exactly what happened to my computer last night. We were both tired … ha ha. So as I laid down to do what I call a 15-minute power nap or the R & R Pose and I had my laptop beside me helping “her” to shut down, too. She was so lost with so many files, windows, and applications running that it took time for her to reboot. I had to force quit many applications before she could finally shut down and reset herself.

I feel like that sometimes don’t you, the need to reboot? Why do we push and push thinking there is no time to rest? We only become unproductive or at best less productive by doing so.

Let me tell you that by taking the time to rest and take care of ourselves afford us the ability to be more productive … always! And, we are less stressed, healthier, happier people … operating from a place of inspiration and joy.

So, I urge you, dear women of wonder, to reboot your operating system BEFORE you get lost in the shuffle of demands in your life.

If you have a “rebooting” story or thoughts to share, please do so in the comment section below.

And, by all means, if you need help in rebooting your operating system email me and I would be honored to assist you.

Have you heard??

Today I come to you with a very simple personal passion.  It will not be much of a surprise to those of you who know me well or those of you who have gotten to know me through The Wonder Woman Challenge.

Although it is not my life passion, it is something that I thoroughly enjoy and it literally fills my cup.  It sees me when I’m happy or sad.  It sees me with or without make-up.  It sees me through the thick and thin of life.

What might I be talking about?  Are you ready? You may have already guest given the title of this article …

Coffee!!

I love coffee … all different kinds of coffee.  I love coffee paraphernalia … and especially mugs!  I own quite a collection of the cutest coffee mugs of which I have started a photo album for on the Wonder Woman Challenge fan page on Facebook.

Every morning I open up the cupboard and ask myself, “Which mug do I feel like today?”  Because you see the mug must match the mood for the day or at least for that morning, otherwise the coffee experience is not all that it could it be.

Have you heard??

When you really stop to think about what all we do over a cup of coffee, one begins to understand the experience of coffee … and indeed coffee is an experience.  One of my favorites is spending time with a friend or family member catching up on life over a cup of coffee.  Nothing thrills me more than for one of sons to suggest we go get coffee.  So much happens over that cup of coffee!  Love it!

And so why is coffee the topic today? Well have you heard?  Certainly you have by now, BUT just in case you have not let me fill you in!!

Starbucks is offering FREE brewed coffee on April 15^th, which is tomorrow (I am writing this Thursday evening).  They are encouraging folks to switch from paper cups to travel mugs all for the good of the planet.  How fun is that?!

And, yes! The picture at the start of this article is my cutest travel mug.  Cute! Cute!  I found it at a very sweet, quaint coffee and tea shop.  I say this all of the time, but truly it is the little things in life that give me so much joy!

So!!  Tomorrow (or today, depending upon when you are reading this) grab a girlfriend and your favorite travel mug and spend some girl time catching up with one another over a free cup of coffee.  It will just make your day!!

Oh!  And!!  Afterwards, come back to this article and leave a comment about how you spent your coffee experience.  I will do the same!!

And, if you don’t have a Starbucks near you?  Go out for a cup of coffee anyway with a friend using a travel mug or some kind of special mug and still come back and share your experience with us.

Have fun!!

Shileen

P.S.  As for Starbucks, read more about how you can make a difference.

So, how are you … really?  Do you even know?

We are asked all the time how we are.  Most of the time we give a pat answer that we are fine.  We go from meeting to meeting, activity to activity, job to job, etc. often times stressed without realizing just how stressed we really are.

Honestly?  That is where I have found myself recently!

I have started The Wonder Woman Challenge fan page on facebook where a bunch of us have started a 30 day challenge together.  It has just started on Monday.  Even though we are only a couple of days into the challenge I am personally amazed with just how much pressure I have been putting on myself, ignoring what all is going on inside … in body, mind and spirit.

So, how are you … really?

When was the last time you checked in with yourself, when you stopped to get quiet long enough to get an answer back?  And when was the last time you asked yourself what you needed and actually gave it to yourself?

We get caught up in life with all of its ups and downs.  In doing so, we tend to ignore, deny, and even mask what is going on inside of us and unless we take the time to stop and listen, we end up in a numbed out state just going through the motions of life.  And I know from personal experience how that state can lead to depression and illness.

I ask you, where’s the joy in that?

So, how are you … really?  Are you living in joy?

I encourage you to stop right now and give yourself a check in.  How full is your cup?  Take some time now to fill that cup of yours up with love and joy.

I invite you to join us at The Wonder Woman Challenge fan page on Facebook for a 30-day challenge.  It’s only 15 minutes a day.  You’ll get support there as well and you’ll get to read my personal journal.

Love and hugs to you!!

Today is the day of love.

My dear women of wonder, today my heart is full of love and compassion for all of you.  On this day of love, I send you all the love that I can muster up because you are so worth loving.

The Wonder Woman Challenge has always been about stepping off of the merry-go-round of life a few minutes each day in order to love yourself … to fill your empty cup with love SO THAT you can joyfully give to those around you.  We must learn and practice giving from a full cup.

Today is the day of love.

Regardless of what anyone else does for you, what are YOU going to do for YOU?  Don’t miss this opportunity to express to yourself just how much you do care and love yourself.  Your spirit will leap with joy!

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” ~ I Corinthians 13:4-7

I encourage you to not only apply this passage of love to those around you, but also to yourself in a balanced and healthy manner.

Today is the day of love.

“What women need is to learn how to nurture themselves. We need to shower as much loving kindness on ourselves as we habitually shower on loved ones, and even not-so-loved ones. We need to be loved for our fully formed selves, not for our dependent, appeasing selves. And the only way we can have fully formed selves is by granting ourselves the same tenderness and fierce protectiveness we’d otherwise reserve for a beloved child.” ~ Alice D. Domar, PhD “Self-Nurture”

I love you!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Shileen

Taking Valentine’s Day into your own hands is a great thing to do!  Why wait and hope that someone will recognize you on Valentine’s Day when it isn’t necessary?

Valentine’s Day can be a fun holiday, it can be a bummer of a holiday.  As women, we always hope that our loved ones will recognize their love for us on this day.  The waiting can be unnerving … will he/they do something or won’t they?  Will someone think of me?

Let me ask you… who really needs that?? I sure don’t!

Many years ago I decided to take Valentine’s Day into my own hands making it whatever I wanted it to be.  I thought about what would bring me great joy on this day.  How can I express love to those close to me that would also fill my own love tank?

I started by giving a tea party to my family, which consists of two boys and a hubby.  You are probably wondering how I pulled that off.  Although at the time they would not admit it, they all loved it!  It was food!  Tell me what boy or man who does not like food!!  =)  Plus they knew it was important to me and we always enjoyed conversation around family time (we still do).  Our tea parties over the years have always been very lovely and meaningful.

It has been a few years since I have thrown a Valentine Tea party.  I will always recognize my guys on this day and they typically do me as well, but I seriously count their recognition as a bonus.

Listen, it is just as important to love on ourselves as it is to love on others.  When we love on ourselves it frees others to love on us.  While you are recognizing your loved ones on Valentine’s Day, what can you do to recognize yourself?  Plan a special tea for yourself, a bubble bath, buy yourself some flowers, take some time to work on a hobby, etc.  Think of a way to treat yourself special, something that will bring you joy.

Here’s a fun idea!  While I was putting together a gift for a friend, I put one together for myself as well.  I love it!  It is simple.  I always say it is the simple things of life that bring me the most joy!

I made a cute set of Valentine’s Day coasters, bought a new mug (I am a sucker for a cute mug!), made up some of “My Famous Hot Chocolate Mix”, and added some of my favorite tea.  It is so very cute!  Just looking it at fills me with joy!

The coaster idea came from one of my favorite websites Cupcakes and Crinoline in an article called Sew Happy 30 Minute Coasters.

Taking Valentine’s Day into your own hands is a great thing to do.  In the end everyone feels blessed with a full love tank.

Do you have any Valentine’s Day ideas to share?

There’s a lot going on at this time of the year as we get ready for Christmas.  Stress is at an all time high … wouldn’t you say?  Life is crazy enough but then when you add the holiday “stuff” on top of an already busy schedule?  It spells … m-e-l-t-d-o-w-n!

Ok, girlfriends, how do we avoid the holiday meltdowns this year?!

First of all, stop wherever you are in your holiday preparations and celebrations and think about what you want Christmas to be for you and your family.  Certainly you don’t want it to be all about stress and meltdowns.  I know that my family does not want me to be irritable, resentful, and miserable during a time that is supposed to be about family, love, and celebrations. They told me so many years ago.  It was then that I began to scale down and slow down so that I could enjoy the beautiful season that it is.

Forget the picture perfect Christmas.  Choose one or two things that are most important and focus on those things.  Do you really need a million different kinds of homemade cookies?  No!  Does your house need to look like something out of a magazine?  No! Seriously, keep it all simple so that you can devote the time you do have to those you love in a way that will create beautiful, fun memories.

That takes me to you.  You know how it goes … “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”  Let’s keep mama happy during this holiday season.  What do you need to do to make that happen?

Yes, scale down the preparations and celebrations.  But also keep up with your self-care activities.  You only need 15 minutes a day – that alone makes such a big difference.  But ya know what? If you need to shut the world out for a while, do so.  Watch your favorite movie, read a book, take a long nap, a bubble bath or whatever you need to do to restore.  These little things make all the difference in the world!

Avoid the holiday meltdowns this year by simplifying and taking a little time to de-stress.  It’s the best Christmas gift you can give to your family and yourself!

Do share your own thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

Here I sit in the middle of Starbucks sipping my favorite latte, listening to beautiful music … just being … allowing thoughts to come and go … mostly go as I release them onto the pages of my journal.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life. We need to release the stress, the tensions, the worries that tend to build up inside of us. Yes, unless we have a way to let it all go, to release, the “stuff” gets stuck in our bodies causing all kinds of havoc.

Right now, my dear reader, stop. Take a minute or two right now and just stop what you’re doing. Get quiet, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Check in with yourself. Go inside and ask yourself how you’re doing right now in the moment.

What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

Got your answer? Ok, here we go again. Ready? Take another deep breath. This time ask yourself right now, in the moment… “What do I need?” What’s the very first answer that comes to your mind? Don’t judge it, accept it whatever it is.

With your eyes still closed take another deep breath and just be. Revel in the moment of being.

Release. It’s so important to release the pressures of life.

Now, I challenge you to do whatever it is your body is telling you it needs. Honor yourself, love yourself, give yourself the tender loving care that you so deserve.

Below is a 5 – 10 minute yoga routine that I do daily. It’s a simple, quick way to release the pressures of life. Once you learn this simple routine you can practice it in quietness if you like or set it to relaxing music. For me, it releases the pressures of life, gives me energy yet relaxes me, and it puts a bounce in my step. It’s been known to give me warm fuzzies even! Really! ☺

Give it a try and let me know how it makes you feel.  Remember, take the time to release the pressures of life.  The results will amaze you.